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Message Board
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Survey & Polls
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Online Survey on the OKF's Website for Overseas Adopted Koreans  |
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In the three year period between 2003 and 2006, the country of origin of 120 OKF online survey
respondents was as follows: 45 from the United States or Canada , 59 from European countries, and
5 from Australia . From those surveyed there were 38 males and 78 females and all 96 respondents
were in their twenties and thirties in age. Among the respondents 29 of them identified themselves as students, the largest category. |
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1. Questions related to OKF program and activities |
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| 1) |
Focus area of Korean.net |
Birth Family Search (39 people), Korean Language Program (31 people),
All area (i.e., birth family search, Korean language learning, Job search assisting, cultural camp and etc.) |
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| 2) |
Significant point when overseas adoptees networks |
Post adoption management (i.e., birth family search, Korean language learning, cultural camp, etc.)-24 people, Adoptee friendship support events-17 people, Establishing adoptee networks among adoptee organizations-16 people |
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| 3) |
Items for improvement for OKF programs (in descending order) |
A More flexible schedule and free time, Providing birth search information, Providing scholarship information for Korean language training, support in Korean language training |
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| 4) |
Positive comments on OKF programs (in descending order) |
Opportunities to share experiences as an adoptee, Opportunities to make new friends (including Koreans and volunteers), Experiencing various types of Korean culture, Chances to obtain various information |
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1) In response to the question, "On which areas do you think Korean.net should focus for OAKs 39 surveyed chose Birth Family Search - the most selected answer,31 selected studying Korean language, 23 thought all areas (Korean culture, searching for birth families, travel, job opportunities, studying Korean language, programs for experiencing Korean culture, etc.) are important. It is apparent that searching for Korean roots and the desire to establish Korean identity were significant interests. |
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2) 24 of the OAKs mentioned that the most important task in building networks for OAKs are post adoption services (i.e., searching for birth families, studying Korean language, programs for experiencing Korean culture, etc.). This survey showed that adoptees have a strong desire to search for their Korean roots and culture. There also were many requests for self-managed adoptee organizations (16 responses) and selected friendship events among adoptees (17 responses). |
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3) In order to better meet adoptee needs in adoptee programs, there were many requests for flexibility of schedule and free time. Information on doing birth searches must also be provided as well as guidance in searching for Korean language scholarships and other support for language training. |
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4) In response to the question, What functions do you think are the most important in building networks for OAKs opportunities sharing experience with other adoptees was the most favorable response and making new friends (including Koreans, volunteers, etc.) was the second most favorable, and various opportunities experiencing Korean culture was third. |
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| 2. Questions of birth search |
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| 1) |
Intention for Birth Family Search |
Yes: 81 people stated that they wanted to know about their background and about one's biological brothers and sisters
Birth Search Attempt: 51 people
Search via adoption agencies: 37 people
Search
via mass media: 8 people |
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| 2) |
Obstacles in Birth Search |
Yes: The reasons are as follows:
insufficient information (record of information and not knowing methodology): 42 people
Lack of communication (translation services were needed) 8 people
difficulty in accessing adoption records and etc. |
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| 3) |
Concerns meeting birth family |
Yes: 21 people
Difficulties after meeting: (23 people answered redundantly) many questions concerning cultural difference and language barrier.
Emotion after the meeting: there have been various responses such as forming affection for Korea, happiness since they found birth family, in the beginning emotionally tough but they are happy presently, and experiencing no problem at all |
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| 4) |
Keep in touch after meeting birth family (from 19 adoptees who met their families |
Yes: 16 people |
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No: 5 people
Whether they want to contact again or not: 2 said, yes and 2 said, no. |
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1) For the question, "Are you interested in searching for your birth families???87 responded
with yes among 120 respondents. The major reason for birth family search was that they
wanted to know their background and birth siblings. Fifty-one of them attempted to find their birth
parents and among them, 37 tried
through adoption agencies and 8 tried through mass media such as TV broadcasting.
=> Through these responses, we recognize that many respondents desired to find their birth families and 48 of them had already searched. As a result, we recognized that there is a great desire to find birth families among adoptees. OKF needs a policy that supports adoptees in searching for their birth family. |
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2) For the question of If you previously searched for your birth family, what do you think was the biggest obstacle 42 of them responded insufficient information
(adoption records and not knowing the methodology) as the biggest obstacle. 8 of them answered lack of communication method (translation needed) and mentioned about difficulties in accessing adoption records.
Lack of information was the biggest drawback concerning the search for birth family, which is the biggest desire adoptees have. So, providing accurate information for the adoptees who want to find their
birth families and providing translation services are needed in our perspective. Also, they mentioned that accessing adoption record is hard. For this matter, cooperation is needed between post adoption services
and adoption agencies. |
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3) Among the responders, 21 of them met their birth families. For questions that kind of changes or difficulties were occurred after they met their birth families 23 of them answered redundantly. The contents of these difficulties were cultural differences, language barrier and so many questions from the birth families. Positive perspective of finding birth family is that forming of affection toward Korea . There were answers like finding family made them happy, they had hard time in the beginning of search but they are fine now, there is no problem now and etc.
=> Generally speaking, the adoptees who met their families tend to satisfied. Since cultural and language barriers acted as obstacle, the opportunities of Korean language training needed urgently. |
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4) Among 21 adoptees who met their birth families, 16 of them contact their birth families regularly and 5 of them do not contact any more. Among the ones who do not contact their families any more, 1 of them would like to meet them again, 2 of them would not want to meet them and the other 2 had no answer.
=> Even if they did not meet their birth families, for the question of keeping the contact with their birth families, 24 adoptees answered the question. We could assume that they did not understand the question. Since 16 of 21 keep their contact with their families among the adoptees who met their birth families,
we could assume that they are keeping their ties with their families. |
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| 3. Survey of Korea and Korean Culture |
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| 1) |
Korean Language Training |
Interested: 99 people
Experience: Korean language school of residing country & Universities - 25 people
Korean language school in Korea & Universities - 8 people
Personal tutoring - 7 people
Internet, TV Drama, CD and etc. - 4 people |
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| 2) |
Residing in Korea and Visiting Korea |
-Desiring to reside in Korea : 49 people
-Visiting experience 63 people (18 people visit more than 2 times)
-Visiting experience 48 people |
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| 3) |
Perfective of Korea and Korean |
(98 people answered repeatedly)
-a good country, good people
-good mannered, humanistic, friendly
-Closed minded, stubborn, traditional
-An unique modern society where has a long history compare to
Europe and the US |
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| 4) |
Identity as Korean |
Yes: 46 people |
They mostly comment on dual identities |
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| No: 20 people |
-They are viewed as Korean in the US and viewed as an American in Korea
-My face is a Korean but I am a French
-Korean-American Adoptee, half Korean and adoptee |
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| Do not know: 50 people |
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| 5) |
Request to Korean government |
- Support for birth search (legalization of accessing adoption records): 22 responders
- Financial support (Adoptee organizations, adoptees when they visit and reside in Korea ): 20 responders
- Stop overseas adoption, resolve overseas adoption problems (support unwedded mothers, promote domestic adoption, Counseling adoptees, Research): 16 responders
- Visiting Korea program and Korean language training program, providing information about Korea : 12 responders
- Supporting OAKs to finding jobs in Korea : 16 responders
- Allow dual citizenship: 5 responders
- How come no outcome even though this survey has been done for last 3 years |
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1) There were 99 people total had interest in studying the Korean language. Among them, 25 of them studied Korean in Korean language schools in their residing countries or at their universities. 8 of them studied in Korean language schools located in Korea . 7 of them had personal tutoring and 4 of them studied through the Internet or TV drama CDs.
=> As a result of this survey, we are able to see that know that adoptees have a large desire to study and learn Korean. Furthermore, adoptees have tried in many different ways to meet these needs. |
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2) For the question of residing in Korea permanently, 49 of them saides. 63 of them stated to have visited Korea before. 48 of them had no experience of visiting Korea . In the group, 18 of them visited Korea more than 2 times, which clearly showed that they had quite an interest in Korea and will most likely visit Korea quite frequently in the future.
=> There are many adoptees who would like to have a job and reside in Korea permanently. From the adoptees who visit Korea repetitively, we learn that adoptees have a big desire to find their roots and their own identities. Therefore, it is necessary to reconsider the permanent residence visas for adoptees who wish to stay longer and also be allowed to hold jobs in Korea . Other supports are also needed for these adoptees. |
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3) For the question on adoptee's perspectives of Korea and Koreans, 103 people responded with various answers. Some answered that Korea is a good country and Koreans are good people. Some mentioned Koreans in positive ways such as they are good mannered, humanistic, friendly and polite. Contrastingly, others pointed out that Koreans are closed-minded, stubborn, and traditional. Also some commented on Korea is a unique modern society, which has a longer history compared to Europe and the US .
These responses explained that OAKs have many diversified opinions of Korea . These appeared to be based upon the individual's personal backgrounds and experiences. |
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4) For the question of identifying oneself as Korean or Korean race,
_① 46 of them answered yes. There were various comments: I was born in Korea and I have a
Korean
___ face, Some part of me is Korean, I was viewed as Korean in the US and I was viewed as an
___ American in Korea , I was born in Korea and etc.
_② 20 of them answered Their comments were as follows: since I grow up in the US I consider myself
___ as an American but I think I will be considered as Korean one day, I do not know enough about
___ Korean culture and language, I have a Korean face but I feel I am a real French, I am a
___ Korean-American
Adoptee and etc.
_③ 50 of adoptees answered "Do not know" There were many different kinds of comments. Some
___ showed dual identities which means they are Korean adoptees and a citizen of the country where
___ they were adopted. Some said they are a half adoptee and a half Korean. Some said they have
___ feeling against Korea and sometimes they like Korea . Some comment that they are neither Korea
___ nor the country adopted them but they understand Korea .
_④ There were 8 people did not answer this question.
___ We can find similar dual identities matters occurred among most of respondents whether the answers
___ were Yes or No or Do not know. As a result, we can see OAKs are having trouble with identifying
___ their own identities. Particularly, ones who answered with not know felt more negative identities
___ than ones a
nswered with "No" |
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5) For the question of what Korean government has to do for the OAKs, most of them (22 respondents) comment that Korean government supports for birth search (i.e., legalization of accessing adoption records and etc.). Secondly, 20 of them mentioned financial support for adoptee organizations and adoptees when they visit and reside in Korea . Thirdly, 12 of them mentioned of visiting Korea program and Korean language training program, providing information about Korea . Other responds were as follows: 16 of them mentioned stop overseas adoption, resolve adoption related problems (i.e., supporting unwedded mothers, and counseling and research of adoptees' mental health). 6 people wanted Korean government to help find jobs in Korea . 5 of them wanted to have same rights (i.e., dual citizenship). As a miscellaneous comment, they said come no outcome even though this survey has been done for last 3 years.
In these responds, it reveals that adoptees felt that birth family search is quite necessary. Related to birth search, they requested legal and financial support. In addition, OAKs demanded stopping overseas adoption directly and better policy of unwedded mothers in order to resolve the core problem of overseas adoption. This tells that Korean government's systematic effort is needed to repair mental stress of OAKs. |
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| 4. Conclusion |
| As we putting the surveys together, the most important request from OAKs is related to birth family search and other important requests were Korean language training, visiting Korea, and learning Korean culture. Thus, Korean government needs to establish policies and to support for birth family search and post adoption services. In addition, there were comments on supporting unwedded mothers from Korean government. It is a voice from adoptees who want to fix the rooted problem of overseas adoption. |
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On-Line Survey |
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